Doll mouth



Oct. 3, 1961 P s 3,002,317

DOLL MOUTH Filed Sept. 14, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ROBERT l.PRUPIS ATTORNEY Oct. 3, 1961 R. PRUPIS 3,

DOLL MOUTH Filed Sept. 14, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2- FIG.

INVENTOR. ROBERT l. PRUPIS ATTORNEY United States 3,002,317 DOLL MOUTHRobert I. Prnpis, Newton Centre, MESS}, assignor to Margon Corporation,Newark, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Sept. 14, 1e56, Ser. No.609,835 7 Claims. (Cl. 46-171) This invention relates to toys,especially dolls, and more particularly to a simulated-movable mouththerefor.

Attempts have been made to simulate a change in the facial expression ofa doll by simulated movement at the mouth. This has requiredmechanicallinkages or the like behind a mouth element disposed at a mouth opening.

Many doll heads are made of a soft, flexible material having a ratherrealistic skin-like surface. These heads may be molded inexpensively byslush molding a vinyl slurry in an outer mold, without requiring a core.The material is elastic enough to be pulled from the mold. It is usuallystuifedlater to help maintain its overall configuration.

The movable mouth mechanisms heretofore suggested are not suitable foruse in flexible heads, and one primary object of the present inventionis to provide a movable mouth mechanism for such heads.

Another object is to provide an operating mechanism which causes aninstantaneous changeover from one mouth condition all the way toanother, as the position of the head is changed, typically from anupright to a supine position. This unstable or total-change actionsimplifies the design and avoids the problem caused by intermediatepositions of the movable element, which ordinarily may appearunrealistic or unnatural. Thus the artist need concern himself with onlytwo terminal positions.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a movable mouthmechanism simulating a change of teeth, rather than a movement at themouth. For this purpose, the mechanism includes an oscillatable elementornamented with differently delineated sets of teeth, one set of whichis exposed and another set of which is concealed in one position of theelement, and vice versa. Thus, one set may represent good teeth and theother bad teeth, and the toy may be used to encourage mouth hygiene byillustrating to a child the difference in appearance as between good andbad teeth.

To accomplish the foregoing general objects, and other more specificobjects which will hereinafter appear, my invention resides in themechanism for simulating a change of facial expression at the mouth of adoll, and the elements thereof, and their relation one to another and tothe doll, as are hereinafter more particularly described in thefollowing specification. The specification is accompanied by drawings,in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a doll head embodying features of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a section drawn to enlarged scale, and taken approximately inthe plane of the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a similar view, but showing the relation of the parts when thehead is turned from upright to supine position;

FIG. 4 is a section through the movable element;

FIG. 5 is a rear view ofthe movable element;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the assembled mouth mechanism which islater inserted in the doll head;

FIG. 7 is a front view of a doll head showing a modilied and preferredform of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a transverse section taken approximately in the plane of theline 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. '9 is a similar view but showing the relation of the parts when thehead is turned from upright to supine.-

with mechanism, generally designated M, which simulates achange offacial. expression. at the mouth. In the particular case here shown thehead H is also provided with eye openings 12 to expose eye members 14.These form no part of the present invention and require no furtherdescription. If movable their movement is independent of, and in no waylinked to, the mouth mechanism.

Referring now to FIG. 2 ofv the drawing, the headH is molded with anintegral socket 16 behind the mouth opening 0. The mechanism M comprisesa hollow thin walled casing 18, 20 which is dimensioned to be receivedin the socket 16. The casing has an opening 22 at the front whichconforms generally to the mouth opening 0. It may be made slightlylarger in order to help conceal the edge of the housing material. Themechanism fur.- ther comprises an oscillatable element 24 pivoted insidethe housing on an axis indicated at as, this element being partiallyexposed at the mouth opening 0. It is moved by a weight member 34), bestshown in FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawing. This weight member is secured. toand movable with the element 24 within the housing, and it serves tomove the element between the position shown in FIG. 2 when the head H isupright, and the position shown in FIG. 3 when the head H is supine. Itis evident from the drawing that the movable element 24 is ornamentedwith simulated mouth parts some of which are exposed at the mouthopening 0 in one position, and concealed in another position of the.element, thereby changing the facial expression of the doll. Morespecifically, in the'present case the movable element 24 is ornamentedwith simulated teeth 32, 34 which are exposed in the mouth opening whenthe head is erect, as shown in FIG. 2, and which are concealed when thehead is horizontal as shown in FIG. 3. More.- over, the movable elementis preferably colored red in the area 36 below the teeth 34, this beingin simulation of a lower lip. The region 38 below the part 36 ispreferably flesh colored, this color is so far as feasible matching theflesh color of the head H in the region below the mouth opening. Theeffect is that when the head is erect, as in FIG. 2, the mouth appearsto be open with the teeth showing, whereas when the head is in thehorizontal position shown in FIG. 3 the mouth appears to be closed withthe movable lower lip as adjacent the stationary upper lip 40, the redcoloring for the latter being applied directly to an appropriatelylipshaped part of the dolls head at the top of the mouth opening.

In FIGS. 4 and 5 it is important to observe that the weight member 3t)is disposed upwardly and forwardly of the pivot axis 26 when the head iserect. A consequence of this is that the movable element is unstablewhen the head is changed from vertical to horizontal position, so thatthe weight moves the element abruptly. When the head is tiltedrearwardly a small amount, there is no corresponding change in theposition of the movable element. When the head is tilted so far that thecenter of mass shifts from one side of the axis 26 the other, the mavenselement swings all the way to its other extreme positioninstantaneously. It never assumes an intermediate position.

. ..Ihe opening movement, thatis the position shown in FIG; 2, -ispreferably limited by stop means, here shown as an arm 42 which bearsagainst therear edge 4d of the forward part 18 of the housing. Theclosing move heat, that is, to the position ishowni n FIG. *3, islimited by a stop means 46 which also be'ars against the-rear edge ofthe part 1813f the housing. in the present case the stop means '42 and456 form parts of a metal stamping, the forward portion ofwhich isembedded in the Weight member 30. The movable-member 24, the weight number 30, and, the stop meansare all assembled together in any desiredfashion, as by cementing, meehanical interlock, or like expedient, sothat these pans all turn in unison about the axis26. The latter may beprovided by a rod or pintle passing through the mom able member andhaving its ends received in the side walls of the housing. The ends arepreferably stepped or shouldered, asshown in FIGS 2 and u i Y I v i Inthe present easethe housing comprises a forward part 18 and a rear part2% which come together telescopicallyfor ashort distancejas is bestshown in PEG. 2. The overlap may be limited by appropriate stops, hereindicated by indentations at '43 best shown in P16. 6. A small area ateach sideof the forward member 1 3 is preferably flattened, asshown at54}, and the flattened parts have bearing holes to receive the ends ofrod 26. rear part ill of the housing, is preferably providedwthforwardly projecting ears 52 whichare disposed outside the ends ofthe rod These ears may be spaced outwardly somewhat from the surfacesfill, thereby providing clearance for the-ends o f rod -25. r, modifiedform of the invention shown in 7 through 1'2 of the drawing. 7 Hereagain the head is fa soft flexible head "provided with a mouth opening'54 (FIG. 18) and a socket 56 behind the inouth opening. the head isrnade by :theso-called slush molding proc'ss'the socket 56 comes out 'asa fully closed socket at the rear The mechanism inserted in the socketagain comprises a hollow thin walled casing 5!, oil with an pscillatableelement 62 pivoted therein at 64, this element being partially exposedat the "mouth opening. There is alsoa weight-member '65, best shown inFIG. 10, and this weight-member is disposed upwardly forwardly of theaxis '64 when the head is in erectposi- 'tion.

The present construction differs from that previously "a numberofirespects. V Qne is that the forward part of the-housing at thetopedgeofthe mouth openingis bent :Ql' turned upward as shown at 66.This "part iseolored ied and is suitably shaped to act as the-stationaryupper flip for the doll head. The latter is patterned or molded'atthe'region 68 to receive or bear snugly against the back surface 'ofthe lip 66.

Another difference is that, the movable element 62 includes a shapedpart 70 which acts as the lower lip of the mouth. The part 74} is notonly colored/red, as before, but isshaped to simulate a lower lip. lfdesired, it may he stepped slightly, as indicated at '72, -"as thoughthe forward tip of the tongue were visible. The "part 74 below 'lip 'll)is fiesh colored, and the edge of the mouth opening at the bottom istapered to'a relat ively thin edge, so that no lower lip is providedbythe 'head itself.

A manufacturer nialiin'g th'e'mouth mechanism -may supply the same as anassembled unit to the'doll manufacturer, "and with thepres'entconstruction,the doll manufacturer does not need to apply anyred coloring material for the lips or'rnouth. "Instead the red for bothupper and lower lipsis 'already'present at'66 and 7il, and fthese reds,of course, may be made'tomatcheach other "perfectly, as they should.

The part of the movable "element above the lower lip may be recessedrearward, and be shaped and colored white to simulate teeth, asindicated at 7 6. This simulates only the lower part of the upper teeth,and is visible when'the head is erect, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.However, when the head is tiltedrearwardly to horizontal position asshown in FIG. 9, the movable element 62 changes tothe position shown'inFIG. 9, thus simulating closingjofthe mouth, for the lowerlip 7Gapproaches the upper lip 66, and neitherthe teeth 76 nor thetongue 72.are visible. An increased part of the flesh colored area '74 becomesvisible, and acts as a continuation of the lower part 78 of the head.

Another easiest the construction here shown is that the entire movableelement is molded out of a single piece of material, typically one ofthe known plastics materials. The material is kept hollow and thinwalled below the axis 64, as is indicated at 80 in FIG. 10. The materialis filled in solidly above and forward of the axis 64, as is indicatedat 6-5, and thus the solidly filled portion 65 acts as theweightniember. I

if desired, additional integral parts may be provided to act as stopmeans, and in such case the parts are thin walled and light in weight inorder not to interfere with the desired action of the weight member 65.Thus in the present case a thin walled rearward extension 82 (PIG. 10)may be used to limit the opening movement of the element 62, for itbearsagainst the top rear portion of the housing, as is best shown in 'FIG.8. Similarly the portion 84 may be employed as "a stop means to limitclosing movement of the element, it bearing against the bottom of thehousing, asshown in F169.

However, it will be understood that when the forward portion of themovable element is shaped, it may itself be appropriately dimensioned toact as motion limiting or stop means. Thus in 'FlG. 8 the portion 86 maybear against the bottom of the opening in the housing to limit theopening movement of the element 62, and in FIG. -9 the lip and/or tongueportion 70, 72 may bear against the top of the opening in the housing tolimit the closing movement of the element 62.

As will be seen in FIGS. 8 and 11, the housing may consist -of partiallytelescopic forward and rear portions, much as previously described. Thusthe forward edge of therear part 69 fits frictionally over the rear edgeof the forward part-58, themotion being limited by stops orindentatioris-shownat-SB. The'pivots 64may be formed as I integraltrunnions, and are received in bearing holes in flattened side portions90-of the housing. The outer ends of the trunnions may be protectedagainst frictional contact with the material of the doll head, by meansof forwardlyprojecting ears;92, which may he stepped or displacedoutwardly slightly, as shown in FIG. 12.

The trunnions may be'put into the bearing holes by lspringingthe sidewalls 90 apart slightly as, for example. by pres i g the top and bottomparts of the forward housing 58 toward one another. The movable elementthen is inserted forwardly through the openrear end of the housing part58. The rear part 60 of the housing is added after-the trunnions havebeen received in the bearing holes. 7

The doll is molded out of conventional soft materials in accordance withany usual practice. For example, the

"head'may be molded out of soft rubber. I-Iowever, it is more readilyand economicallymade out of a vinyl slush molding compound, for withsuch compounds only an eutside mold is needed, no inside core beingrequired. The mouth opening andits socket are formed by providing asuitable plug in the mold. The plugis shaped and dimensioned to providea socket which will snugly receive and hold the housing, and "also toprovide a mouth opening which will substantially conform to the mouthopening of the housing. The material issufilciently elastic and"flexible "to be pulled from a one-piece mold, the "socket p0rtio n 56being pulled from around tlie'plug which forms the" same.'I'lieelasticity of the mateiialniak's it possible eaten? to, insert themouth assembly by simply forcing the same: through the mouth openinginto the socket. g,

The housing parts 58 and 60 are preferably formed of thin sheet metal.The movable element 62 is preferably molded out of a suitable plasticsmaterial, and the material is preferably flesh colored. In such case theonly additional color to be applied is white at the teeth 76, and red atthe lip and tongue '70 and 72. The flesh color at the area 74- isprovided by the color of the plastics material itself. ()ther proceduresmay be used, as by painti'iig the flesh color on a red plastic, etc. g

.It will be understood that while the movable element 62 simulatesmovement of a lower lip, it would be possible to provide stationarylower and upper lips, and to so design the movable element as tosimulate the movement of a tongue only. in the resulting doll the mouthwould remain open, but the tongue simulation would move.

In the present case the housing 58, 60 is made of sheet r'iietal. Themovable element 62 is made of a hard plastics material, the trunnions 64being formed integrally therewith. However, the materials are notcritical, and in the form of the invention shown in FIG. 4, the parts 24and 30 may be made of metal, or the part 24 may be made of plastic whilethe part 30 is made of metal. In both forms of the invention the thinhousing may be made of a hard plastics material instead of metal.

In' the drawing, FIG. 2, 3, 6, 8, 91 and 11, the lower lip is linedvertically to indicate red, and in FIG. 11 the edge of the upper lip issimilarly lined vertically to indicate red. In the specification theterm flesh color has been employed, it being understood that this meansexternal skin color. In a typical case the skin is fair, but may be ofdifferent color to indicate different races.

. It will also be understood that features of the first form of theinvention may be interchanged with features shown in the second form ofthe invention. For example, in the latter I have shown the lip 66 formedintegrally with the housing so that it is a partof the mouth mechanismapplied to the doll head, whereas in the first form of the invention theupper lip is formed or painted directly on the doll head itself. Itshould be understood that the second form of the invention may be madeas here shown, but omitting the upper lip 66, in which case the housing58 terminates at the top within the mouth opening of the doll head,substantially as shown in the first form of the invention. While thishas a disadvantage in requiring the doll manufacturer to color the upperlip of the doll head, it has the advantage of giving the dollmanufacturer much greater leeway in originating the appearance andcharacter of the doll face. Thus the artistdesigning the head may givethe upper lip any desired configuration to help produce a desiredexpression on the doll head.

It will also be understood that the simulation of teeth at 76 on themovable element 62 may be omitted, in which case the action of the mouthmechanism will be to simulate opening or closing of the month bymovement of the lower lip to the upper lip, but without showing teeth ineither position. This change, and also the omission of rearward stopmeans, are shown in FIG. 13.

Referring to FIG. 13, the movable mouth element there shown generallyresembles that shown in FIG. in being molded out of a single piece of ahard plastic material, the piece as molded including trunnions 102. Thepart of the movable element forward and above the axis of trnnnions I02,indicated at 100, is solid and thus acts as a weight. The region 108below the axis 102 is pref- 'erably hollow and thin walled. 'Inconsequence the balance is unstable, and the element shifts abruptlybetween either of two positions corresponding to those shown in FIGS. 8and 9. No rearwardly projecting stop means are provided, and instead themotion is limited by the forward or lower part of the movable elementcooperating with the mouth opening in a manner which again may be seenfrom inspection of FIGS. 8 and 9.

In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 13 there are no simulatedteeth. There is an indentation at 106 which may simulate the feta/aidtip of a The areas at 104 and 106 are colored red. However, the

sired, the movable member 24, weight member 30, the" stop means, and theends or trunnions at axis 26 may be integrally die cast of any suitablematerial to form a single unitary movable member, or the weight member30, the stop means, and the ends or trunnions at axis 26" may beintegrally die cast with such casting suitably united with member 24.

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No.544,854, filed November 4, 1-955, and since abandoned. V p

It is believed that the construction and method ofuse of my improvement,as well as the advantages thereof; will be apparent from the foregoingdetailed description thereof. It will also be understood that while Ihave shown and described the invention in several preferred forms,changes may be made in the structures shown, without departing from thescope of the invention, as sought to be defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. Mechanism for simulating a change of facial appearance at the mouthof a flexible doll head having a mouth opening and a socket behind saidmouth opening, said mechanism comprising a casing dimensioned to bereceived with a snug fit in the mouth socket of the head, said casinghaving an opening at the front conforming generally to the mouthopening, an oscillatable element pivoted in said casing to expose asurface area thereof to view at said mouth opening, a weight memberdisposed to be upwardly and forwardly of the pivot of said element whenthe head is erect, whereby the weight is unstable and is adapted to moveabruptly when the head is changed from erect to supine position, andstop means to limit the motion of said movable element, said elementhaving simulated mouth parts at said surface area some of which areexposed at the mouth opening of the doll in one position and concealedin another position of said element, said element being molded out of asingle piece of material which is hollow and thin walled below the pivotand which is filled in solidly above and forward of the pivot when thehead is in erect position, the said solidly filled in part constitutingthe weight member.

2. Mechanism for simulating a change of facial appearance at the mouthof a flexible doll head having a mouth opening and a socket behind saidmouth opening, said mechanism comprising a casing dimensioned to bereceived with a snug fit in the mouth socket of the head, said casinghaving an opening at the front conforming generally to the mouthopening, an oscillatable element pivoted in said casing to expose 'asurface area thereof to view at said mouth opening, a weight memberdisposed to be upwardly and forwardly of the pivot of said element whenthe head is erect, whereby the weight is unstable and is adapted to moveabruptly when the head is changed from erect to supine position, andstop means to limit the motion of said movable element, said elementhaving simulated mouth parts at said surface area some of which areexposed at the mouth opening of the doll in one position and concealedin another position of said element, said element being molded out of asingle piece of material which is hollow and thin walled below the pivotand whichis filled'in solidly above and forward "of the pivot when thehead is in erect position, the said solidly filled in part constitutingthe weight member, said element having additional integral partsconstituting the stop means, said last mentioned parts being thin walledand light in weight in order not to interfere with the desired action ofthe weight member.

